Page 21 of A Lady’s Rules for Seaside Romance (The Harp & Thistle #3)

A nne awoke with a gasp and immediately became consumed by the most wretched headache. Wincing from the pain, she pulled a nearby rope to ring the maid and fell back to her pillow with a groan, placing a hand over her forehead.

A forehead that felt like fire.

That would explain the vivid dream of when she’d first met Victor.

It was awful how dreams amplified emotion.

That feeling of hopelessness she had felt that day, the little beacon of light from Victor’s kindness that had pushed through the fog—it all felt like she was back to that day, even though it had been an entire decade.

Though why that old memory was the one that had become a fever dream, she hadn’t the faintest idea.

Dutton knocked quietly before entering the room and appeared at Anne’s bedside with a tray containing soup and water.

“How long have I been asleep?” Anne asked in a raspy voice.

“About four hours, my lady,” Dutton replied, setting the tray on the nightstand.

Anne began shaking from chills, as if she still wore the rain-soaked clothing. “I can’t believe I’ve succumbed to fever the first day of our summer holiday.”

“You’re lucky that’s the worst that happened to you today,” Dutton said with a pointed look. “Mr. Victor McNab told me everything that had happened.”

Anne’s eyebrows pulled together as she moved to sit up against pillows Dutton situated for her. “Why did he tell you about that?”

“He was worried you have an invisible injury. Merely a precaution, my lady, for me to watch out for.” From under her arm, Dutton pulled out a little stand that she unfolded and bridged over Anne’s lap.

Dutton then put the tray upon it. Aside from the bowl of soup and a glass of water, there was a small crystal vase with a little daisy in it.

“How sweet.” Anne touched the flower gently with one finger.

“Mr. McNab asked me to give that to you.” Dutton avoided Anne’s eye as she said this.

“He did?” Anne pulled her hand away from it but kept looking upon it. “Why?”

“To brighten your spirits, I imagine. Everyone was worried when you still slept hours after coming in from the rain. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Anne recalled earlier that morning, when she and Victor had had to share the saddle.

The way his arm had wrapped around her had turned her into a silly girl who’d then become brainless over his wet, clinging, transparent shirt.

She should absolutely not be turning into a silly girl over Victor.

Or any man, rather. She needed to rectify this at once.

“Could you please have Lady Vivian come in here?”

Dutton gave a quick curtsy of acknowledgment and departed the room.

A few minutes later, Vivian entered, a deep frown on her face. She hastened to Anne’s bedside. “Dutton asked me to come in and see you. Is everything all right?” Vivian didn’t wait for a response before putting a hand to Anne’s forehead. “You do have a fever.”

Anne spooned some of the broth but let it fall back into the bowl. “Yes, I feel rather terrible. The chills are atrocious.”

“I should fetch a physician, I think.”

The last thing Anne wanted was more fuss over her. “Please, don’t. I’ll be fine.”

Vivian lowered to the edge of the bed and eyed the daisy, but she didn’t say anything about it. Likely, she assumed it was simply a decoration Dutton had put on the tray. “Victor told us what happened with the rain, and Onyx.”

Anne’s eyes went wide with panic. She had forgotten all about the horse! “Oh, Vivian, I am so sorry. He got away from me! The rain came out of nowhere. I know how sensitive he is and wouldn’t have taken him out if I’d known we were going to get storms.”

Vivian waved her off. “He’s already back in the stable. There’s a particular meadow he likes, and anytime he escapes, he always ends up there. They found him not long after you returned with Pancake. Don’t fret.”

Anne let out a breath of relief.

“I heard you had to share a saddle with Victor, though. Astride .” Mischief glittered in Vivian’s eyes. “How was that?”

Anne swallowed and lied. “So humiliating, Vivian.”

Vivian gave her a coy look. “‘Humiliating’? Oh, I don’t think that’s what you felt.”

Anne, suspecting this was an innuendo, narrowed her eyes at Vivian, who only laughed in response.

Feigning disinterest, Anne began to stir her soup and forced boredom on her face and in her voice.

“Did he say anything about that?” She was, admittedly, a bit curious about how Victor had perceived the moment.

He’d definitely disliked it. But how much?

“Oh,” Vivian said too brightly. “Just that you had to share the saddle and he had to hold you to keep you from falling off.”

Anne stopped stirring, tilted her chin up, and closed her eyes. “Yes, that did, in fact, happen.”

“And then he said once you were back at the stables, he could tell you were getting ill.”

Anne’s eyes flew open. She had not felt ill in the stables. “How?”

Vivian pursed her lips before saying, “Because you were staring at him.” Then she smiled. “And you were red as you did so.”

“I have a fever !” Anne was outraged by Vivian’s insinuation.

“Normally, I would believe you—well, maybe—but we heard all about what happened when he came into the house afterward.” Vivian looked Anne over and cocked an eyebrow. “You know, soaking wet?”

Anne let out an overly dramatic gasp. “What are you insinuating?! I-I should be insulted!”

“So, you aren’t denying you were staring at him and blushing?”

Anne’s mouth dropped open and she stammered.

Vivian was reading far too much into this.

All right, yes, Victor had looked nice in the wet shirt.

It had been nothing more than appreciation of a fit male form.

It was absolutely not an appreciation of Victor himself.

She let go of the spoon and it clinked against the bowl.

“I did have a purpose for requesting your visit and it wasn’t to pester me. ”

“But it’s so much fun.” Vivian pouted.

Anne rolled her eyes. “I think you should throw a ball.”

Vivian pulled back a bit, as if surprised by the suggestion. “A ball? When?”

“I think a week from now would be good. I’ll be better by then. And not everyone will be in the area quite yet, so it won’t be as crowded. Freddy mentioned his new friend’s family summers nearby. I think it would be nice to invite them and get to know them.”

“If you want that, I suppose I can throw a ball on short notice. As you said, not everyone is on holiday yet. And Father has been bothering me about throwing more social events on his behalf. But why a ball and not a dinner party? You never seem very interested in them.”

For a moment, Anne debated if she should be honest about this.

On one hand, it would be far easier if she lied and said she simply thought a ball would be good fun.

But Vivian was right—it would be odd for Anne to say that.

Vivian would see through it as clearly as glass.

If Anne were honest, though, she could at least redirect Vivian away from Victor and quash whatever it was she thought was going on.

Because it was clear Vivian had some incorrect ideas floating around in her head.

“It has been a rather long time since I’ve truly enjoyed a ball,” Anne said. “I haven’t danced since I went through mourning. Plus, I think this summer would be a good time to dip my toe back in the romantic waters.”

Vivian’s mouth become a perfect O .

“ Potentially .” Anne gripped her bedding and said this a bit louder to make the point.

“And I am not being serious about it. I only want to play around a bit. Some dancing here, flirtations with my fan there, you know. Nothing serious at all. Then, once summer is over, I’ll leave that silly business here. ”

“I don’t understand,” Vivian admitted.

“I’m happy with my life now. But I haven’t pursued male attention since I was a debutante. I don’t know… Maybe it would be a bit fun to do so? I don’t want to take it too seriously, though, which is why I thought being a bit silly over summer would be a good way to do that.”

Vivian’s eyebrows furrowed and she twisted her mouth.

Was she upset with Anne? Anne’s late husband was Vivian’s brother.

And though the last few years of his life, they had not been on good terms—in fact, Vivian had cut him out of her life as well—Bernard was still her brother.

And they’d been close growing up. A sense of dread flooded her.

“Oh, dear, should I not be talking to you about this?”

Vivian’s eyes softened. “That’s not it.” She paused and looked down at her hands.

“I know my brother did not treat you well.” Another pause.

“I’ve never told you this before, but when I learned about his passing, I wasn’t surprised at all.

I figured one day everything would hit me, that he was gone.

There were days where I was a bit sad, but I never sobbed over it.

I don’t think he ever would have gone back to who he used to be.

I mean, if that accident had not happened.

He would have only become worse, more erratic, more dangerous.

I just wish things had been different. If anything, I felt regret that I could not have helped him more. ”

“Vivian, you did so much for us. For him. You already did plenty.”

“Maybe.” Vivian looped a loose piece of dark hair back around her ear. “I mourn who he used to be, I suppose.”

Anne reached around the tray and placed her hand over Vivian’s. “I know.”

After a long moment, Vivian sighed and then straightened. A sad smile lifted her lips. “Very well. I think throwing a ball in a week’s time is a brilliant idea.” And then, she suddenly stood. “Though I probably should go begin the plans for that. Do you need anything?”

Anne shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Vivian nodded and left the room.

Anne looked back down at her soup, but she had no appetite.

There was a strange nervousness swirling around in her stomach that took away any hunger she may have had.

Gently, she moved the tray and stand over to the other side of the bed and threw the blankets off, then began crossing to the other side of the room.

Briefly, she stopped as her eyes set upon the door that went to Victor’s room. On a swallow, she made her way over to the door and pressed a hand to it, then listened.

There was no faint sound on the other side.

With a quick flick of a wrist, she ensured the door was locked before heading over to her vanity. It took searching a few drawers, but finally, she found what she was looking for.

She unfolded a piece of paper and reacquainted herself with it.

A Lady’s Rules for Seaside Romance

Never chase a gentleman.

Never flirt first.

First and second conversations should be less than ten minutes.

Kissing is acceptable, but do not make the first move.

No gentlemen with bad hygiene.

No gentlemen who only talk politics.

No gentlemen more than ten years older or younger.

No gentlemen who don’t laugh.

No gamblers.

Never fall in love.

Satisfied, Anne put it back in her drawer.

She recalled briefly when Vivian had been seeking a husband years ago, she’d had a difficult time finding a gentleman who would make a good mate.

So many of the men in their social class were scoundrels.

For a brief moment, Anne felt a sense of hopelessness but then pushed that away.

She wasn’t seeking a husband. She was seeking someone who would happily walk arm-in-arm with her and make her stomach flutter with butterflies.

Then she would leave him behind—where he belonged.

Almost anyone could do for that purpose. In fact, a scoundrel might even be a bit of fun, so long as she was careful not to lead him to expect too much. It wasn’t like she was ever going to marry anyone, or take the man seriously, either.

There was a slight breeze that came in through the windows and with it, voices from below. Anne went over to one window and looked down at the expansive, lush lawn. Everyone was outside right now and it appeared they were playing croquet.

Anne smiled to herself as she watched. She still felt horrid, though the chills had lessened, but she could manage to watch for a minute or so.

It appeared to be a game of four with Mary, Freddy, Victor, and Ollie.

Everyone else, save Vivian, watched from the side.

Mary tapped her mallet against a red ball and the ball rolled over the grass and through a metal hoop.

Freddy went next, and then Victor. Anne watched with interest, as she didn’t think Victor had ever played the game before.

Victor swung the mallet a few times, as if testing his swing, and then finally made contact with a green ball.

It flew off at a severe angle.

While Ollie patted Victor on the back, Mary and Freddy clapped animatedly.

Anne covered her mouth to keep from letting out a laugh.

As Victor crossed over to where the green ball was, Ollie took his own swing.

However, Anne didn’t watch how Ollie did.

Under the veil of secrecy—no one had any idea she was spying on them from her window—Anne let her eyes anchor on Victor.

She watched him cross the lawn, now wearing a dry, dark suit, and he gently swung the mallet in time with his steps.

Then he suddenly stopped about ten feet short of the green ball, turned around, and looked up directly at her standing in the window.

With a sharp inhale, Anne took several steps back to where she knew he couldn’t see her. Her heart pounded hard in her chest and she covered her mouth with her hand. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, so why did it feel as if she had been caught doing something quite naughty?